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I Learned to Read Again

substack.magazinenongrata.com

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Re: I Learned to Read Again

#11

Post by galleywest200 »

Jtarii wrote: post #10
HumanEater wrote: post #2

Screen addiction is a thing for me, I'm addicted to my phone computer and tv and i don't know how to manage it. I know its just an escape mean for me, a tool to not be there but it stop me from doing other more interesting stuff

The easiest way to counter it is just leave your phone at home and take a book and go to a public bench and read. You will quickly condition your brain to no longer need to constantly be looking at a screen to be happy. Your environment is your destiny, if your environment is littered with distractions you will be distracted.

Even when at home I try to keep my phone in my nightstand drawer. Sure I can go grab it, but that bookshelf is a lot closer to my lounge areas.

Re: I Learned to Read Again

#12

Post by JumpCrisscross »

pseudonymidy wrote: post #7

Is there value in identifying the difference between reading a longer article like this one and an actual book? Reading the news from the AP/Reuters and a book on history? I spend lots of time online, primarily on my phone, reading. I don’t watch videos and I don’t use social media aside from browsing the Reddit front page. I try to justify my online escapes because I’m reading a substack, a bit of news, an interesti…

> Is there value in identifying the difference between reading a longer article like this one and an actual book?

Almost every study that looks at this finds that there is. Between the time for deeper contemplation, cognitive load of sustained attention and greater potential information content of a larger body of text compared with a smaller one, someone who reads books is generally going to more competently understand things gestures generally than someone who gets everything from articles online.

Re: I Learned to Read Again

#13

Post by justincarter »

Is reading morally superior? It seems like greater society (with the apps) is rapidly changing back to an oral culture which seems to be humanity’s default setting.

Edit - via the visual boost of short form video

Re: I Learned to Read Again

#14

Post by JumpCrisscross »

HumanEater wrote: post #2

Screen addiction is a thing for me, I'm addicted to my phone computer and tv and i don't know how to manage it. I know its just an escape mean for me, a tool to not be there but it stop me from doing other more interesting stuff

Recapitulating an old comment. Start by quitting all algorithmic, ad-driven social media.

Going cold turkey is never easy. If you're having trouble withdrawing, consider what I did over for Facebook over a decade ago:

1. Turn off notifications for the Facebook (read: your main social media) app on your phone; then

2. Turn off notifications for the Facebook Messenger, Instagram, et cetera apps (read: all other social media) on your phone; next

3. Delete the Facebook app from your phone; then

4. Delete the Facebook Messenger, Instagram, et cetera apps from your phone; and finally

5. Log out of Facebook on your desktop.

It took me 2 years to go through from step 1 to step 5. It has made me happier and more productive. I still have a Facebook account.

But the friction of grabbing my laptop and logging in forces me to consider "is this what I want to do? Or am I thoughtlessly reaching for the crack pipe?" (It's been about a decade since I've cared to log into Facebook. Last time I tried, it felt like trudging through spam in an old e-mail inbox more than anything compelling.)

Re: I Learned to Read Again

#15

Post by JumpCrisscross »

justincarter wrote: post #13

Is reading morally superior? It seems like greater society (with the apps) is rapidly changing back to an oral culture which seems to be humanity’s default setting. Edit - via the visual boost of short form video

> Is reading morally superior?

No. Of course not. Someone who can't read due to mental disability isn't morally inferior to someone who can and does.

Re: I Learned to Read Again

#17

Post by augustocallejas »

justincarter wrote: post #13

Is reading morally superior? It seems like greater society (with the apps) is rapidly changing back to an oral culture which seems to be humanity’s default setting. Edit - via the visual boost of short form video

https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=48830868

Re: I Learned to Read Again

#19

Post by hintymad »

pseudonymidy wrote: post #7

Is there value in identifying the difference between reading a longer article like this one and an actual book? Reading the news from the AP/Reuters and a book on history? I spend lots of time online, primarily on my phone, reading. I don’t watch videos and I don’t use social media aside from browsing the Reddit front page. I try to justify my online escapes because I’m reading a substack, a bit of news, an interesti…

There is a difference between reading a short article and reading an actual book. Reading short articles gives you quick facts and situational awareness, but it doesn't build wisdom.

My personal theory is that wisdom comes from deep, long-form reasoning. You can't get it just by skimming short articles or memorizing isolated facts. When we read a deep and comprehensive book, the real value is the mental labor. It forces us to follow a long, complex argument, spot subtle patterns, and actively debate the author in our heads. We have to weave different facts together to see the bigger picture.

This kind of "hard reading" actually changes our brain by building new neural connections. Wisdom goes beyond collecting information. It's more about the cognitive journey of thinking deeply and widely about a topic. Short articles give us data points, but books train us how to think.

Of course, serious researches may tell us otherwise. I don't have any data points outside my personal experience.

Re: I Learned to Read Again

#20

Post by BoingBoomTschak »

JumpCrisscross wrote: post #15
justincarter wrote: post #13

Is reading morally superior? It seems like greater society (with the apps) is rapidly changing back to an oral culture which seems to be humanity’s default setting. Edit - via the visual boost of short form video

> Is reading morally superior? No. Of course not. Someone who can't read due to mental disability isn't morally inferior to someone who can and does.

He obviously meant "is choosing to spend your time reading morally superior", though.
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